Trying victory over China puts Finland in semifinals in women’s Olympic ice hockey
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It was not easy, but Finland did pull it off and made it to the semifinals in women’s ice hockey at the Olympics in Vancouver with a 2-1 victory over China on Tuesday night.
Finnish forward Venla Hovi’s go-ahead goal late in the second period gave the Nordic girls some room to breathe, after China had drawn first blood at 18 minutes into the game while playing short-handed.
Despite outshooting China 43-5, scoring a goal proved tricky indeed for the Finns. In fact, even in Karoliina Rintamäki’s equalising goal in the second period, the puck changed direction when hitting the stick of Chinese forward Jin Fengling before finding its way past goalie Shi Yaon to the back of the Chinese net.
Apparently it was quite extraordinary that a “Mexican wave” started circulating around the university arena filled with some 6,000 spectators. Finland's national women's ice hockey team is not believed ever to have ever played with such a wave surging around the venue at the same time.
China’s opening goal came as a slight surprise in the middle of a power play situation for Finland. Chinese captain Wang Linuo managed to break out from the side and placed her slap shot needlessly easily past Finland goalie Noora Räty.
In the first period four Chinese players were awarded four two-minute penalties back to back. Evidently the Chinese team struggled with their discipline while trying to keep up with Finland.
Nevertheless, while short-handed, China managed to protect its goal remarkably well and most of Finland’s shots were fired from too far or too sluggishly.
China’s Finnish coach Hannu Saintula was certainly aware of the fact that his team would be the underdogs, but the turtle-shell-like defence tactics worked remarkably well.
Finland’s number one forward line Michelle Karvinen–Saara Tuominen–Nina Tikkinen were mobile and handled the puck imposingly, but on the efficiency side they need to shift gears when the fighting for the medals commences.
In the last game of the preliminary round Finland will face the United States. Both teams have already secured their place in the semifinals. The outcome of the game determines which team’s semifinal opponent will be the favourite Canada.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 17.2.2010 - TODAY |
 Trying victory over China puts Finland in semifinals in women’s Olympic ice hockey |
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